All Black Skipper Richie McCaw Retires

Retiring New Zealand captain Richie McCaw farewelled “legend” Jonah Lomu, after the former All Blacks winger died suddenly on Wednesday.

Jonah Lomu’s family say they are touched by the outpouring of love for the former All Black, but his wife is no longer asking for financial support for her children.

“To finish on that note is pretty good”.

“The last thing I wanted to be was disrespectful or anything to do with that”.

Lomu was his devastating best at the 1995 and 1999 World Cups scoring 15 tries in 11 games but never winning the trophy.

“Deep down I didn’t want to shut the door totally”.

Stunningly effective both going forward and defending, as well as a remarkable reading of the game, he was not without controversy either – being no stranger to rugby’s “sin bin”, when players are temporarily suspended for infractions.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen joked that McCaw “couldn’t catch, couldn’t pass, couldn’t run” when he first saw him paying as a teenager.

“I remember watching that World Cup and going into that World Cup final (thinking) “just get the ball to Jonah”,” he said.

“Like everybody, you have to pick the right time to go and he couldn’t have picked a better time”.

“He has been a terrific player and leader and probably the greatest we have had”.

The page has already raised thousands of dollars and the website told the New Zealand Herald the volume of visitors crashed their site yesterday.

The most successful player, with 131 Test wins.

Auckland Council and New Zealand Rugby have said they are working with the family on an appropriate memorial.

McCaw was also the first captain to lead his country in 100 tests.

Lomu was indicted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in October 2011 – the same year that his body began to reject his kidney and he went on dialysis, which he received three days a week.

Since 2004, when those six players cemented their places in the side, the All Blacks have won 137 of 157 Tests, losing 18 and drawing two.

It is typical of the sport for players to speak so fondly of each other.

“Phil Waugh Richie McCaw”.

He played his last Test for New Zealand against Wales in 2002, after making his debut as a 19-year-old against France in 1994 – still the record for the youngest ever All Black.

The Pau-bound centre said: “You’ve shaped the All Black team in a way that is modelled around you, your dedication, your hard work and all the success we’ve had in that time you’ve been part of”.